The 10 Best Plush Dog Toys for Cute and Cuddly Play Time

• This review contains affiliate links. Read more here.

Plush dog toys provide great entertainment for a lot of dogs. If you’ve got a cuddler (and not a pup specializing in squeaker-ectomies or general destruction), these soft and snuggly dog toys are great options for gentle play—especially indoors.

But with so many options out there, how do you know which plush toy is right for your dog? To help you in your search, we’ve rounded up our top ten picks, ranging from squeaky plushies to soft fetch balls.

• Best for Snuggling: Multipet Plush Lambchop Dog Toy
• Best Texture: goDog Dragons Squeaker Plush Toy
• Best Multi-Pack: ZippyPaws Skinny Peltz Squeaky Plush Dog Toy Trio
• Best Squeaker: Outward Hound Invincible Snake Plush Dog Toy
• Best for Puppies: The SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy
• Best for Tug: Outward Hound Squeaker Matz Gator Plushie
• Best for Fetch: Chuckit! Indoor Ball, Soft Dog Toy
• Best Interactive: Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Plush Dog Toy Puzzle
• Best for Quiet Squeaking: TrustyPup Penguin Plush Toy
• Best Budget: Multipet Duckworth Plush Dog Toy

Best for Snuggling: Multipet Plush Lambchop Dog Toy

Snuggle pups and fans of Sheri Lewis’ iconic Lambchop will love this toy’s extra-soft exterior. Available in four different sizes for various breeds, this toy comes with at least one squeaker.

Pet parents like the super cuddly design, saying it’s a favorite in their pup’s toybox. But some reviewers note that it comes apart quickly if you have a chewer on your hands. (However, if you need a replacement, this is one of the more affordable plushies on our list.)

Key Features:

• Available in four sizes: 6″, 10″, 13″, and 24″
• Extra-soft exterior for snuggling
• Equipped with at least one squeaker (depending on size)
• Affordable price point

Best Multi-Pack: ZippyPaws Skinny Peltz Squeaky Plush Dog Toy Trio

Offering three toys for the price of one, this popular plush pack features a fox, raccoon, and squirrel. Free of stuffing, each toy has multiple squeakers evenly distributed throughout an 18-inch or 11-inch design.

Reviewers like that the trio is free of stuffing but note that without it, the toys are relatively flat instead of plush. While this is great for a game of tug or fetch, it can make the squeakers easier to puncture. 

Key Features:

• Great value with three toys for the price of one
• Long, stuffing-free design (11″ or 18″)
• Each toy has multiple squeakers

Best Texture: goDog Dragons Squeaker Plush Toy (Verified Review)

For a fun texture, goDog plush toys have a soft, bubbled exterior and an understuffed body good for nibbling, tugging, and shaking. Reinforced with “Chew Guard Technology,” these toys have a double-stitched exterior and robust inner liner for added durability. While this reinforced design adds more sturdiness to the toys than others on our list, no plush is really made for committed chewers.

We found the toy’s texture, thickness, and squeaker entertaining for curious dogs. We also liked that it comes in various sizes and shapes, including extra-large for big dogs and a “Just for Me” size for smaller pups.

Key Features:

• Soft bubbled texture and squeaker
• Thick design and double stitching add durability
• Sturdy toy but not recommended for committed chewers

Best Squeaker: Outward Hound Invincible Snake Plush Dog Toy (Verified Review)

If you have a prey-driven pup who goes wild for squeakers, this plush snake toy packs a lot of punch in its long design. The large size has three squeakers, the x-large holds six, and the xx-large is stuffed with a whopping 12!

Filled with Outward Hound’s “Dura-Tuff” lining, this stuffing-free toy offers a sturdy option for moderate chomping and chewing. The jumbo squeakers are also designed to keep making noise even when punctured. Our reviewers liked that the squeakers were quieter and found that the snake made for a great tug-of-war toy.

Key Features:

• Available in three long designs stuffed with up to 12 squeakers
• “Invincible” squeakers made to keep making noise even after punctured
• No-stuffing toy with durable lining

Best for Puppies: The SmartPetLove Snuggle Puppy (Verified Review)

Introducing itself as the “original heartbeat dog toy,” the Snuggle Puppy has been popular for over two decades. Featuring a small plastic disc heart, this plush toy recreates the comforting heartbeat of a littermate or mother. It also has a single-use, replaceable heating pad that can be inserted and secured inside the toy’s belly along with the heart.

In our testing, we found it helped calm more than one of our anxious Rover pups. We also discovered, however, that it isn’t the best choice for determined chewers.

Key Features:

• Heartbeat recreates pulse from mother and littermates
• Known to help anxious dogs and puppies acclimate to new homes
• Includes a single-use heating pad for warmth
• Batteries power the heartbeat insert

Best for Tug: Outward Hound Squeaker Matz Gator Plushie

This extra-long plush toy is lined with rows of squeakers, creating a Bubble Wrap type of toy that many dogs find irresistible. Available in multiple sizes, the largest alligator measures 52 inches in length and has 32 squeakers.

With minimal stuffing, this floppy toy is great for tug-of-war, and the soft fabric is gentle on your pup’s teeth and gum while they bite, shake, and play. Pet parents note that this isn’t the best toy for aggressive chewers but appreciate that the lack of stuffing makes for easy cleanup should a puncture occur.

Key Features:

• Long, floppy body great for tug
• Rows of squeakers add a fun, bubbly texture
• Designed with minimal stuffing
• Largest size has a length of 52″ and 32 squeakers

Best for Fetch: Chuckit! Indoor Ball, Soft Dog Toy (Verified Review)

When you can’t be outside, this fuzzy indoor ball makes it possible to still play fetch. The lightweight design protects indoor surfaces while featuring that rubber ball bounce that drives many dogs wild. In particular, our reviewer appreciated that the ball didn’t mark up their walls—an important plus when playing inside.

Measuring 4.7 inches in diameter, this plush ball has multiple layers of material for added durability. It also comes in different shapes, like a football and a flying squirrel.

Key Features:

• Fuzzy ball for indoor fetch
• Lightweight but has durable dual layers
• Measures 4.7 inches in diameter
• Comes in a variety of shapes

Best Interactive: Outward Hound Hide-A-Squirrel Plush Dog Toy Puzzle (Verified Review)

Yet another plush toy by Outward Hound, this hide-and-seek squirrel game is highly popular for its simplicity. Just stuff the squeaky squirrels into the soft tree trunk and let your dog hunt them out. It might sound repetitive to humans, but we found it highly entertaining for pups who like squeaky toys.

Easy on your dog’s teeth and offering mental enrichment without being overly challenging, this toy makes a good puzzle for seniors with diminished appetites or dogs who aren’t very food-motivated. It’s also available in various shapes to suit pups of all sizes.

Key Features:

• Simple hide-and-seek puzzle
• Soft trunk hides squeaky squirrels for interactive play
• Great puzzle for play-driven dogs and pups with diminished appetites
• Available in various sizes

Best for Quiet Squeaking: TrustyPup Penguin Plush Toy

Does your pup love squeaky toys, but you’re less than enthused about their noise? This plush penguin is ideal for sound-sensitive pet parents. Made with a patented squeaker that operates at an ultrasonic frequency out of human hearing range, this toy is only audible to dogs. 

Reinforced seams and a chew-resistant lining create a sturdy toy, while the soft outer fabric makes for an ideal cuddle buddy. As far as we can tell, it really works!

Key Features:

• Plush penguin for cuddling
• Reinforced seams and chew-resistant lining for durability
• Patented squeaker only audible to dogs
• Great for pet parents sensitive to noise

Best Budget: Multipet Duckworth Plush Dog Toy

Something about the oblong shape and the super-soft material makes this duck toy a favorite among many pups. Measuring 13 inches in length, this large plush toy has a squeaker and comes in various colors (shipped at random). 

Pet parents like the simplicity of the design and the affordable price point. Many cite having multiple on hand for a quick replacement so their pup isn’t without their top toy—especially since this isn’t the most durable option on our list.

Key Features:

• Squeaky and fluffy duck 
• Large toy measures 13 inches in length (there’s also a mini version for smaller pups)
• Dogs love the oblong shape and feel of this soft toy
• Budget-friendly option

How We Chose

The plush dog toys featured here were selected based on a combination of our own hands-on testing and a comprehensive look at customer reviews across a wide variety of retail platforms. We prioritized toys with double-stitched seams, secondary inner linings, and a range of designs to suit pups with different play styles. We’re also guided by the experience of living and playing alongside our own much-loved and strongly opinionated dogs, who are never stingy with their feedback.

Further Reading

• Dangerous Dog Toys: What to Avoid, From Toxic Materials to Unsafe Designs
• Our Favorite Puzzle Toys To Help Bored Dogs
• The Best Indestructible Dog Toys for Power Chewers